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Articles & Stories 

Choose from selection of blog posts, articles, and stories. The subject matter includes marketing and technology, work and culture, and the outdoor lifestyle.

NetWise •

Explained: Verbal Design for Data-Driven Marketers

Data-driven marketing allows you to be matter of fact, less speculative, and more strategic. Processes, operations, and decision-making are supported by computers and software. Creativity and observation can influence ideation, but technology guides you to the most effective outcome or solution.

You can send a message out to see if it resonates with the people you want to reach and quickly get a signal back on whether or not they’re consuming or converting. You can answer the question “Is it wo
The Startup •

Top Consultant Interview Questions for Project Managers

As an IT consultant, landing the project you want is preceded by discussions with an agency contact — and multiple interviews with company employees — if all goes well. Although speaking with the hiring manager is a good sign, you must first receive a recommendation from those leading the search for consultants.

Since we are the design division of IT talent management firm The Carrera Agency, our projects at Designing North Studios often coincide with the search for talent. And as our IT counte
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Articles and Stories

NetWise •

Metaverse Marketing: How Marketers Can Get Started

Various manifestations of the metaverse will be ad-supported, much like connected TV is today. And we can expect experiences in the metaverse to attract large audiences. Therefore, brands will see opportunities to subsidize experiences and lower the barrier of entry for everyone while creating affinity.

There’s untapped potential for effective marketing in the metaverse. The rollout of programmatic advertising in the gaming industry is a prime example. Both Sony and Microsoft are actively pursu
Medium •

Creativity, Purpose, and Passion; an Exploration of Good Work as a Framework for Success

Creativity, Purpose, and Passion; an Exploration of Good Work as a Framework for Success

Artistic creation (creativity), mission-driven work (purpose), and excitement for the job(passion); in combination, the three encourage a person to explore ideas others label as unrealistic — too rare or too risky. Each and every one of us yearns to impact the world with the good work we do, or want to do. It’s the human nature of good humans — the answer to our ‘why.’
Medium •

Rethinking Ocean Plastic With Artists and Designers: 10 Well-Designed Ads

A picture truly is worth a thousand words while trying to comprehend the impact of plastic and other pollution on the marine environment. These artists prove it — they are designing an emotional response to ocean plastic. The stark beauty of their creations is having an impact on people worldwide, captivating onlookers to show interest in a subject that might otherwise be swept under the rug — or left on the streets…
LinkedIn •

Blue Planet II is the Ocean Experience we all Need Right Now

Blue Planet II is expected to be a thrilling journey, and David Attenborough will once again be our tour guide across the ocean.

With over 43 million views on its trailer video in under a month, Planet Blue II is poised to make an impact across the globe, starting with Europe on October 29th. Us unfortunate ‘blokes’ in the states will have to wait until early 2018 for such pleasure. And the timing couldn’t be better.
Medium - The Startup •

Finding Your Flow Like a Designer, With Advice From an Executive Creative Director

What is flow? What does flow mean? And how on earth can flow be experienced? (Outside of the Progressive insurance commercials).

For the longest time, these questions lingered among the team at Designing North Studios as we navigated the sea of creativity and requirements each project demanded. But that was then. Now, with the guidance of our Executive Director, Lisa Peacock, our team has learned how to position our schedules to find our individual flow. And you can do the same: by following ou
The Carrera Agency •

All-Hands Approach to Cybersecurity in the Workplace: IT, Business Leaders and Employees

It was once said that cybersecurity in the workplace wouldn’t exist without IT. Well, that statement is now showing its age and has since evolved into something more inclusive. In reality, there is no cybersecurity without IT, business AND employees working together with shared objectives and a strong culture.

Simply put, every organization should approach cybersecurity by integrating the IT department, business units and employees. We’ve said it before and well say it again:
Marketing And Growth Hacking •

Designing Your Life Using Artistic Creation; a Lesson in Mental Clarity, Empathy and Fun

Have you ever thought about designing your life?

Essentially crafting a “tomorrow” that gets you excited, feeling ready for what’s next. If you have, good for you — you’re one step ahead of most. Our tips will keep you moving forward. And if not, we can help you get started. Echoing the words of every parent, “You aren’t getting any younger!”

The most common question we encounter is where do I begin? And from our many experiences in the design studio working with others to develop the designin
Medium •

The First and Most Important Step in Designing a Remote Creative Team

So, you want to design a team of remote creatives… Well, it might be time to throw a party. That’s right, a party. Not the advice you were expecting, was it?

Throwing a party is the first and most important step in designing a remote creative team. Experience shows, distributed teams happily collaborate using technology tools (thank you, Slack, Trello, Invision Studio, and Harvest to name a few) but often miss out on the face-to-face interaction physical studio-based teams view as “the norm.” A
The Carrera Agency •

A Consultant’s Guide to Coexisting with Cybersecurity

Within the modern IT organization, everyone needs to be a cybersecurity professional. Plain and simple. Every technology worker needs to serve as the first line of defense against threats to data, networks, infrastructure, and most importantly, people. Through adopting this mindset and remaining open-minded about your consulting career, you can capitalize on the many opportunities that currently exist in cybersecurity.
The Carrera Agency •

Social Engineering, A Driver for Cybersecurity Awareness

When we asked a group of CIOs in the Southern California region what their biggest concern was for the immediate future their answer was clear: cybersecurity and social engineering; the culmination of people, process and technology.

Link: Read about the relationship of people, process and technology in IT project management.

In 2016 alone, the FBI received nearly 300,000 cyber security fraud complaints categorized as Business Email Compromise (BEC), totaling over 1.4 billion in economic losses:
The Carrera Agency •

A Project Manager's Perspective on Project Management

Do you remember when project management was viewed as strictly a science? This began to change over the past decade as the ‘art’ of project management increasingly became a topic of discussion. Until this point, the profession was measured through conventional tools, or as Project Management Institute (PMI) refers to them, the “mechanics” of project management. But what was missing from the manuals of the past was an acknowledgement of the art of project management.
The Carrera Agency •

Digital Transformation: Identifying The Level’s Of Maturity

Digital transformation has become an integral business strategy for nearly every legacy corporation in existence. The current disruption from swift moving tech-startups is unprecedented, and larger companies are being forced to transform their asset types in order to remain relevant to end users, not to mention stay competitive within their market. We now live in a digital-first world where technology must transcend every level of an organization...
Medium •

Growing The Freelance Economy With A Focus On Freelancers

The freelance economy is growing. And with this growth, freelance consultants are finding more opportunities to apply their skills toward the projects that most peak their interests.

In fact, this independent workforce is increasing in size at an impressive rate:

In 2016 alone, the freelance workforce accounted for 55 million professionals who earned nearly one trillion in income, according to a workforce survey (largest to date) commissioned by Upwork and Freelancers Union.

Outdoor Sports and Lifestyle

Gearminded •

The Marin Presidio 3 Makes Commuting Easy and Enjoyable

There’s so much to like about the Marin Presidio family of bikes. And the Marin Presidio 3 checks all of the boxes for a modern urban commuter. The days of the heavy, ground-and-pound city bike are gone – unless that’s your vibe.

With the help of Marin, you can have a modern urban bike equipped to handle a variety of terrain. For example, the Marin Presidio 3 is customizable for the commute; it can be stripped down for comfort road riding or packed up for an adventure. Most importantly, no matt
Gearminded •

10 Campaigns for People and the Outdoors in 2018

It’s safe to say there is no shortage of corporate social responsibility (CSR) within the outdoor industry. Consumers and enthusiasts continue to express their concerns for the environment and society (reflecting their core values), and companies continue to listen. And respond.

The outdoor industry serves as a model for the healthy relationships brands and loyalists should have across all industries, one that provides purpose and reward beyond the physical product — gratification from supporti
Gearminded •

Folklore Surf: Founder Interview With Mar Cubillos

Folklore Surf: the questionable accounts of distant lands, perfect waves, and surfing that a person can only dream of. They get bigger and better with each telling until they become your own target of exploration.

“It’s this folklore of surf that motivates us to create our own experiences that go beyond the time we spend in the water. This is our belief and it’s only fitting that we have a name that fits us.”

Our conversation started with an Instagram story.
Gearminded •

Mika Amaro Handmade Bikes Founder Interview

Do you believe in bike-love at first sight? I do! Please, postpone your judgement. At least until you lay eyes on a mika amaro urban bike. The way in which the shiny details come together… these bikes have looks that could kill. In fact, when I first stumbled upon a mika amaro my heart skipped a beat; knowing I would be lusting over someday owning an urban bike with such fine qualities, I had to introduce myself and learn more. Well, after getting to know more about the brand...

LinkedIn Native Content

LinkedIn •

To Find Your Ideal Job, Master the Search

The number of open jobs in the U.S. hit 7.1 million on the last day of August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 7.1 million -- think about that for a minute… That’s a big number when you consider a job post for each. Even so, notice I specifically didn’t make reference to “mastering the job board” in the title. That’s because the sheer number of open jobs on any given day has rendered the traditional job board ineffective for most people.
LinkedIn •

How my Cat Taught me the Secret to Happiness With her “Never Stop Exploring” Mindset

It all happened in the master bathroom of my small beach condo. I had just finished lunch (vegan quesadillas, if you must know) when I decided to freshen up with a quick face rinse (no, I will not apologize for working from home and adopting the stereotypical lifestyle that comes with the territory). As I finished, turning to my towel for assistance, my 1-year-old cat, Gidget, jumped onto the counter, coming face to face with the trickling stream of lukewarm faucet water.

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